Riding the Ups and Downs of the Parenting Rollercoaster
This post is sponsored by Fisher-Price. Be sure to read on for a fabulous chance to win!
I know you know exactly what I mean. One minute you’re up – riding the high of you baby’s first smile or coo – and the next you’re in the depths of despair as your preschooler spends the whole night throwing up. Or, you get to school and bundle the baby and kindergartener out of the car… high five, you’re actually on time for once…only to realise you’ve forgotten the school bag!
From the moment we first suspect we might just be pregnant we jump onboard this rollercoaster of emotions that is quite simply, being a parent. And the daily ups and downs don’t end with the morning sickness or the irrationally emotional hormones of pregnancy, in fact I am convinced they are just the training ground for what is still to come!
There is so much joy in being a parent – the smiles and laughs, first steps and words, hugs and snuggles, and sloppy, open-mouthed baby kisses, something I could never fully fathom before I became one myself. The flipside of this unique, emotional bond is the everyday hard stuff – the overtiredness, the often overwhelming feelings of self doubt, the sense of isolation and the frustration of those groundhog days when you are over it all and just want to escape!
In recognition of this emotional rollercoaster, leading infant and preschool toy brand, Fisher-Price, has recently launched a new brand campaign – Overjoyed, Overwhelmed – to celebrate the experiences of expectant and new parents by encouraging them to connect and share both the highs and lows of their own parenting journeys.
With the campaign motto, “All moments are worth sharing,” Fisher-Price understands the value of parents connecting. Their own research found that nearly 90% of all Mums share their parenting experiences via social media sites such as Facebook, and that one third of new mums look to online communities when they are feeling overwhelmed. Findings I am not at all surprised by as through blogging and my own involvement with social media I have certainly come to realise that whatever your particular parenting style, whatever challenge you are facing right now, wherever you are on this journey, there are others right where you are, feeling just like you do, all around in the world.
I am pleased to announce that I will be working closely with Fisher-Price as an ambassador for the Overjoyed, Overwhelmed campaign. This means more great Childhood 101 play ideas and parenting tips mixed in with a range of fun Fisher-Price product reviews and giveaways, and to celebrate our exciting, new partnership one lucky Australian reader will win a wonderful box of Fisher-Price joy!
Bring a smile to the faces of your little people – win a box of Fisher-Price joy!
One lucky Australian reader will win 1 x Rainforest Friends Gym, 1 x Rock A Stack and 1 x Chatter Phone (AJ loves both the Rock A Stack and the Chatter Phone!)
Entry is simple. This is a game of skill and entries will be judged based on creativity and originality. Leave a comment on this post sharing:
How do you keep from feeling overwhelmed in the face of your everyday parenting challenges?
Open to Australian entries only. Entries close 25th July 2013. Full terms and conditions here.
Competitions
I try not to sweat the small stuff, this parenting business is a tough gig but keeping a positive mind (having a strong coffee & a block of chocolate handy helps) but by not letting myself get snowed under with endless thoughts of what ‘needs’ to be done helps me re-center because really it doesn’t ‘need’ to be done, its trivial in comparison to childhood. My kids need my love and me more then a spotless house, so I take a breath & look away from that laundry basket 🙂
congratulations on the fisher-price gig… How exciting.
I try and talk it out with other parents with children of the same age as my own. There is nothing like feeling more ‘normal’ and less alone than hearing that someone else has gone through something similar or is dealing with the same challenges your facing. It actually really allows me to refocus myself and reflect on how I’ve done things or can do things better.
I am a pretty casual and laid back person so nothing really stresses me too much but when I start feeling a little overwhelmed I just remind myself that they will be grown up before I know it and I need to take a breath and enjoy every second (good and bad) while I can. Every smile, every hissy fit, every wake required for a feed, every I love you. They are the best years regardless how hard they seem.
You’ve described parenting so well Christie. It can be intense – in good ways and not so good ways. When I feel absolutely overwhelmed, I call hubby to come home asap, and as soon as he is home, I head out – for a drive or a walk, for some time to get myself together again 🙂 xo P
Fresh air. Fixes anything. Whether mummy just needs to clear her head, or the little ones need to be “run like greyhounds” to grow tired and then SLEEP!, it’s simply fresh air. It’s magic.
Don’t enter me in the comp, cause I don’t have kids young enough anymore, but
1. I go to bed early so I’m not so tired, or
2. I stay up late so and have some ‘me’ or ‘we’ time.
3. I look away from the laundry pile (as per Nae above)!
4. I get together with other mums and just hangout (away from my house and the laundry pile).
5. I decide to do just one thing, and do it. eg, just put away one small pile of washing, or do one load, or focus on cooking dinner and ignore the laundry.
6. When all else fails I put on the TV and tell them I am taking a nap. 🙂
1. Coffee
2. Hiding all the washing that needs to be folded and put away in the spare room.
3. Cleaning one room and setting up shop in there.
4. Setting the kids up in the playroom with warm milk, a treat like a big bowl of popcorn that takes them a while to get through and the tv/ipad/a movie.
5. Calling a fellow Mum to talk it out or talk about anything else – depending on my mood.
6. Secret stash of chocolate 😉
I talk it out with people who know exactly what I am going through, and feeling. “Misery likes company.” No, not really, but it is very helpful to know that I don’t have to be perfect, or have everything perfect. Just enjoy each day and especially enjoy life’s little victories.
I can totally relate to this. There is definitely so much joy in parenting but on the other side of it, it can be extremely difficult to the point of exhaustion. So take a break, take a deep breath, step back, and relax. You don’t need to finish everything all in one go. Some things can wait until tomorrow. 🙂
Parenting is the hardest and most rewarding job you will have, being paid in hugs and kisses. This was a great post. We are excited to see the partnership with Fisher Price. Feel free to swing by our page and find more great parenting tips and ideas to teach your kids at home with little to no costs. Enjoy!
I call hubby and ask him to be home by 4- ha ha!
It’s usually the housework that gets on top of me and makes me feel overwhelmed. So although I made a joke of it I truly do rely on my husband for support before I reach breaking point. If I can have 1/2 hour to run around the house and tidy up a bit I feel much better before starting the dinner, bath, bed routine.
I’m with my kids all day, everyday except for 4 hours of kinder so we have a pretty good rhythm together. But, if I feel like one of us is out of sorts I simply break routine, e.g take an unexpected walk to the park.
This is so relevant for me right now with a 7 month old non-sleeping bub, a 3 yr old and a just turned 5 yr old, all at home with me! We’ve had some cold but sunny days lately and I try and sit outside for 10 minutes every afternoon and just be… something usually happens to boost my mood, whether just the sun on my face or watching my daughter playing her imaginative games nearby. A quick bout of totem tennis with the kids gets my blood flowing again and we’re back on track!
This is so relevant for me right now with a 7 month old bub, a 3 yr old and a just turned 5 yr old, all at home with me! We’ve had some cold but sunny days lately and I try and sit outside for 10 minutes every afternoon and just be… something usually happens to boost my mood, whether just the sun on my face or watching my daughter playing her imaginative games nearby. A quick bout of totem tennis with the kids gets my blood flowing again and we’re back on track!
1. I remember to laugh at all the funny things my 2 year old does. If she is not being amusing, then I look at some hilarious photos of her
2. Breathe deeply
3. Go for a walk
4. Eat chocolate
5. Write a blog entry
6. Jump on the trampoline, preferable with my 2 year old as it’s bound to bring fits of laughter
7. Eat more chocolate
8. Get out the playdough – it’s therapeutic for both of us
9. Remember that God’s mercies are new every day and get a fresh start tomorrow
When I start to feel overwhelmed, I think about my grandma who is sitting in a nursing home, slowly deteriorating with dementia, reminiscing the ‘good ol days’ and talks to her husband who passed away two years ago. My grandma loves my young children and whenever we visit she always says to me with a smile ‘They were the best years of my life, having babies, did you know I had three baby boys and gee they have treated me well..’
So when the washing is piling up high, the floor is littered with dog hair and crumbs, the baby is crying, the toddler is in a tantrum and I’m overwhelmed being a mum, worker and wife, I remember my grandma and I am immediately thankful that I am young and healthy and can ‘handle’ each drama because it all goes too fast and one day I will be reminiscing in a nursing home about those ‘crazy’ years and agreeing that they were actually the best years of my life.
I try to keep myself from being overwhelmed as a brand new mum, by imagining how overwhelmed SHE must be feeling as a brand new baby!
I honestly feel it was ‘easier’ to be pregnant and have a baby way back when I had mine in the 1950s. We didn’t have the stress of mobile phones constantly ringing (we didn’t actually have a landline so had to go to the corner call box if we needed to ring anyone about anything). I didn’t have a car to use so got plenty of exercise just hauling the shopping home. A very tiny washing machine with hand wringer (for both my kids) also kept me very active. No TV then so no reason to be sitting around. Of course most of us made and knitted our baby’s clothes even hemming cloth nappies to use. I truly think these are very stressful times for everyone whether the parents of young of even older children. Technology and medicine have both gone ahead in leaps and bounds which is good but I tend to feel sorry for the young people of today. When do you find the time just to smell the roses and take the baby and pram for a walk and sit in the park and relax?
This is a terrific post Christie and I know you have had your problems with both your little ones and I was so lucky that I had few problems with my two.
I take my baby daughter as my example – she spills her milk? No problem – make patterns on the floor! She falls over for the millionth time? No worries – she starts picking up uneaten sultanas from the floor and has a little snack (err, don’t focus on the household cleanliness indicators in that example!). Basically, every down is a new opportunity for fun or learning or both. So that is how I try to look at things as well. And boy – it’s so free-ing and really makes you notice the little joys in life!
I’m guessing ‘with a large glass of wine’ is not the right answer? There’s a line from a song “At the end of the day, it’s another day over” and it’s good to remember that that’s all it is. No use getting too worked up about what happened, or what’s in line for the next day…
I reckon we have tried all parenting strategies and one which works and gives you a good chance of maintaining things under control is ‘stay composed and calm’ as a parent. This not only leaves less parenting stress on you but also gives you greater control on everyday situations.
When I’m feeling overwhelmed as a parent, I call my mum! Whether it’s just for a chat, or for her to come visit for a few hours, she helps me to focus on the brighter side of things and to not worry about the small stuff!
Deep breaths ,remember your only human ,we all make mistakes ,Take every day as it comes have friends and family to help out and a routine is a really good habit to have
I allow myself to serve up baked beans for tea sometimes, its healthy, super quick, cheap and gives me a well deserved rest, and that’s something I am not going to feel guilty for!
Ummm…it’s not very noble to admit, but focus on the bits that will earn you the most external praise for the least effort, like:
* toddlers with nice manners will earn you more kudos than an 11 mo who can read!
* make sure hubby catches you doing the vacuuming – he’s not going to notice otherwise ‘cos NOBODY cares whether it’s done or not. Nope, nobody.
* sleep in and just wear a smile rather than a full face of makeup
* you’re too busy at the end of the year, so give teacher/carer presents in July. Or whenever suits you. It’ll still be appreciated and might just keep them going until December.
* dads rock. Especially other kids’ dads doing the playgroup or school pick up run. Men have a totally different outlook on parenting and rarely judge you. Plus see the vacuuming comment above.
* never ever try to put on a smug, super-organised appearance – you’re simply tempting your child to throw the most massive tantrum in the history of ever. In front of everyone. And their dog. Be modest and supportive and 30 parents will flock to help you.
P.s. love “Time to Create”. Great book, you should be v proud.